Friday, May 30, 2008

Friendship Sealed with a Case of Mangoes

Yesterday when half of the White on Rice Couple was in L.A., I suggested we meet up. I've drooled over their gorgeous pictures for months, chuckled over their senses of humor, and watched in awe at their amazing videos. It was just a last minute thing, because she was already downtown and yet, Diane showed up at my door with an entire case of mangoes. Man, if I didn't already love her, the mangoes would have sealed the deal.

Hey, my friendship can be bought, but it doesn't come cheap! Mangoes are nearly twice as expensive as they were last year. :( The day before, I was at the grocery store and bought one mango. I couldn't justify buying a whole case even though I love mangoes so. And yet, she gave me a whole case. She said to share with my family, but ummm...if they don't know I have them, it's not selfish right? Right?
In the close-up, don't the mangoes look like dinosaur eggs?

In all honesty, I don't know why I ask because I can happily devour the whole case as is. Well, not in one sitting mind you, but I don't need to cook mangoes to enjoy them. I like them even when they're the world's smallest mangoes and take more work to peel than to eat. Hmm. Maybe mango sorbet or mango shortbread squares?
Anyway, so we went on a little eating frenzy last night. She decided to try Bollini's Pizzeria Napolitana - Monterey Park, where we ordered a large half Salsiccia 3 and half Fungi E Tartufi and the crab-stuffed mushroom appetizer. She literally scraped the plate clean. With a fork though. She's mannerly like that. ;) She even saved one lone mushroom for her better half. We saved him three slices of pizza too.
Then we moved on to 85 Degrees C Tea House - San Gabriel where we shared a mung bean shaved snowflake and a pot of semen tea.
Then, oh, yeah, we're not done yet, we went to J & J (Jin Jian) Restaurant - San Gabriel where we had an order of pork and an order of pork/crab xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings) and Shanghai sticky rice cakes. Don't worry, most of that went home with her other half as well.
Before the eating extravaganza though, she got a tour of my uncles' gardens. So here's a happy reminder of my second-youngest uncle's baby pomelos. Can you spot all three?

Oh you beat me to it! Yes, you described our eating adventure so well! I had such a fabulous and delicious time, if you only really knew. I couldn't stop raving to everyone that I now have my SGV insider, the food explorer, my eating partner in crime, Wandering Chopsticks! Thank you! Could you tell that I was in a food coma after the second serving of dumplings? I shouldn't have eaten that amazing third piece of Bollini's pizza, or the extra stuffed mushroom. I think licking the plate clean of the home made pesto really did me in too. Yeah, I really don't have manners when it comes to good food. I'm a ravenous, plate licking, manner-less pig and proud of it! :) I could barely drive home without falling asleep! But lucky all that semem kept me awake.;) I walked through the door and had to immediately explain my semen indulgence to Todd. ;)But all the extras made up for it and he's happy now, waiting to finally join us again.The mango chicken looks great, save some for us, please.

Oh man, sounds fun. :) I was actually at Bollini's last night, too. I've been wanting to try it for so long after reading your blog, but I was too lazy to go until now. I live so close to the other two places you two went to, but I still haven't tried anything from there, either.

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